Romance of Roman Villas (The Renaissance)

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d I set about the choosing of my wife-as it were the purchase of a brood-mare." Still more his soul revolted at this low animalism w

ad a measure with her maidens. But Eleanor danced with more vivacity and passion. You would have thought her of Spanish blood as she leapt and whirled, catching the ball with the lithe ferocity of a panther. For Beatrice, Richard had no eyes, for as he watched Sancie, he knew what her three kingly brothers-in-

you know with more particularity how she appeared to him, look you straightway at the sweet maid in the foreground of that Coronation of the Virgin which Fra Lippo Lippi painted; and from the framing of wayward little curls that make their esc

eart for making a thing so fair, and stood as one in amaze

n the game, for this was the custom when one of the

, only her who sped it, and making ma

rl in the Corona

Lippi Permiss

re, like rockets, above their heads. Here, seated upon one of those carven tombs which now make benches for lovers in that enchanting spot, she told him old legends of St. Trophime, how he and his fellows sculptured about the portal of his abbey descend from their niches and keep her

re for so great a p

used and ended her sentence differently from her first intentio

are very fickle and it must needs happen that many a good knight will fight his doughtiest and yet not succeed. If I am among that number, s

nights the mortification of public discomfiture, my father hath decreed that they fight incognito (their true names being

nd I will cause it to be blazoned on m

"that I shall wed the King of Cups. Therefore, i

er," he murmured-a

stood before them regarding the pair with a derisive leer. "There is an old proverb which it were well you should both remember," he said. "If I mis

cried Richard, his eyes aflame,

ach rather, ripe and luscious. Watered not your mouth in that game of ball when the strain of her deep breathing and the violent turning and twisti

ccident I lifted not my eyes above the hem of her r

ldobrandino. "Ah! the pretty little feet, the shapely ankles! But marked you those of her sisters

. And what unspeakable villainy is this that I should have taken service

ck in-drawing of breath through her sensitive nostrils when the tales of the trouvères and jests of the jongleurs offended her exquisite modesty-his heart swelled with pain into

r in astonishment. "What met

observance, delicate attentions, and such refinements of self-sacrifice as in t

lity gain? An she will, it is needless. In either case it is ridiculous. Trust me, a woman sets more store by the man who compels her admiration than by him who s

brandino was at his side taunting him until he burst forth into many a torrent of indignation

tered one bearing the device of a golden cup from which ran a stream of silver water. Also when Richard, with visor drawn and all in mail of shining steel, caracoled

t King Louis held them in reprehension and was determined that this trial of arms, which was but a friendly joust, should be a model of chivalric self-restraint and courtesy. There was much grumbling when the rules were published b

ge themselves in two parties under the banners of the victorious knight and him who stood second, all were of one opinion, namely that Louis had so emasculated the sport of

ey had more thrilling sensations than they had counted upon, more of tingling along the spine and lifting of the hair as knight after knight went down and esquires dragged their masters from the tawny dust clouds that hid the plunging chaos. Tender maids, noble ladies, yea, and

arena in procession, and, having saluted the King and the ladies, took their positions in two companies at either extremity of the lists. For in this wise had it been or

won therein the greatest glory must be matched again in two other duels, whereof th

set, and the first pair of knights, laying t

f his saddle in such wise that he dinted the field with the back of his head, and to such effect that thereafter he had no memory either for good or ill, no, not so much as of this astounding adventure or of his sweetheart's face. When Richard met the redoutable Des Baux their lance-heads were planted squarely each upon the shield of the other, but the polished curving surface offering no purchase both lances slipped, and Barral's splintering and glancing downward was thrust into the haunch of Richard's horse. The creature uttered a piteous, human-like cry which was echoed by Sancie, and Richard hearing that wail and feeling himself sinking so that his feet touched the grou

od condition, and he could not be said even to have quit his saddle si

n the shield of his opponent precisely as Richard's had done, it had wrought far greater damage, for

ween these two champions who must no

s best horse, but ere he returned the loss was repaired by another, and Richard entered upon a powerful coal black stallion, tricked with scarlet housings. A noise of clapping greeted his entrance for

hine and Richard with a sweep of his arm sheared the plume from his adversary's crest. But Alphonso, who missed his proper stroke, dealt him a dirty thrust in the side as he was passing. It pricked through Richard's arm

er of this contest?" and the herald shouted her answer so that all heard it: "The

umpet and announced that another challenger, delayed from appearing at the first, contested this decision. Having been bidden enter, a burly knig

f conceit, here is a whale indeed among fishes, a world-bearing monster, who fancieth that all the affairs of this earth rest upon his shoulde

him of the Spilling Cup, drove him backward, as it seemed, by his sheer weight, so that the barrier cra

nent's shield, it was with a weak and wavering touch; while Richard's had found a joint in the armour of the knight of Atlas, and had he

ithheld the spear he cried to Aldobrandino, "What hinders me from

, "But one thing hinders-your word as a belted knight," and at that a

the pantomime. Judge then what was their surprise, what the vexation of the two Queens and the despair

nd indeed the good King's conscience smote him so sorely, knowing himself a partner in the trick, that he c